Military recruiters stay vigilant amid war on terrorism

Military recruiters like the 29-year-old Sellars were thrust into the spotlight following the fatal shootings in Tennessee. They often work at storefront centers that are designed to be open and inviting to civilians, like the one Abdulazeez shot at. At the same time, the recruiters have found themselves on the front lines as the war on terrorism has shifted.

On Thursday, the Pentagon announced it has ordered security improvements at military facilities. There are more than 6,300 military recruiting-related sites across the nation, including 186 in Georgia, according to the U.S. Defense Department. In a memo he sent military leaders Wednesday, Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter said his agency’s policy authorizes arming certain personnel.

Sandwiched between a hair salon and a staffing firm, Sellars’ office looks out onto a bustling parking lot bigger than a football field. A monster-themed miniature golf course and a Dogfather’s hotdog restaurant do business in the same tan complex.

The prominent location comes with advantages. The office is not tucked in a corner of a secure military base, where civilians may feel unwelcome. And the location works on people’s impulses. Potential recruits running errands will spot the large red “National Guard” sign out front, park their cars and walk right in.

But such locations can be more vulnerable, leading to calls for heightened security.

Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal recently declined to join governors in several other states and order Guardsmen to arm themselves at bases and recruiting centers following the attacks in Chattanooga. A spokesman for the governor said Deal made the decision after consulting with Georgia’s adjutant general — Brig. Gen. Joe Jarrard — and determining no policy change was needed “because current state law allows members of the Guard to arm themselves if they choose to.”

In the days following the shootings in Chattanooga, civilians showed up outside Sellars’ recruiting office to guard it, carrying pistols. One wielded a rifle. The U.S. Defense Department recently urged against such efforts, citing safety concerns. The Guard’s recruiters, however, said they appreciated the show of support, adding the volunteers caused no problems. People are showing their support in other ways. One woman, they said, recently walked into the office, announced she was “taking lunch orders” and promptly returned with a stack of gift certificates from Dogfather’s.

Sellars said she loves her job because it allows her to help people. It’s also important experience she believes will help her advance within the Guard. She works in an office with five other soldiers, who are responsible for recruiting in all of Cobb County, which includes more than a dozen high schools. On average, they spend 50 hours with each recruit, from first “contact to contract.” They target people between the ages of 17 and 25 and help enlist about 130 soldiers each year. Their conversations start with an acronym: APPLEMD. It stands for age, physical condition, prior service, law violations, education, marital status and dependents – all important information for the application process.

Infantrymen may good-naturedly tease recruiters like Sellars because they sometimes work behind a desk. But senior officers say recruiting competent troops is critical, particularly at a time when the U.S. military is retrenching. Besides, many recruiters like Sellars have instant credibility with enlistees because they have previously served in combat. Sellars is a veteran of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Decorated with photos of uniformed Guardsmen and signs that declare "duty," "loyalty," and "selfless service," Sellars' recruiting office sits just a short drive west of Sprayberry High School, where one of the victims in Chattanooga graduated. In uniform, the recruiters attended a recent vigil there for Marine Lance Cpl. Skip Wells.

Abigail Trono knew Wells. A rising junior at Sprayberry, she has a quick smile that reveals a glint of braces. Trono started to enlist with the Guard before Wells was killed. But his death has strengthened her resolve to serve in the military. She walked into Sellars' office this week and resumed the application process. She wants to become an officer and ultimately go to work in the medical field.

“To think that they sacrificed their lives for us… it just made me want to do it more,” she said of the fatalities in Chattanooga.

Sitting across from her at a broad white desk, Sellars began to ask Trono a series of questions.

Sellars: “Any heart problems?”

Trono shook her head.

Sellars: “Ever been discharged from the military?”

Trono shook her head again.

Sellars: “Ever had hepatitis?”

Trono said she had not.

Sgt. 1st Class Tom Cauffman, the commander of the recruiting station, stood beside them, listening in. He’s so passionate about his work that he sometimes tries to recruit people while he’s out shopping at Home Depot with his wife. It’s also personal. He’s now helping his son enlist. Recruiters, Cauffman said, must be careful and dedicated because the soldiers they help sign up reflect on them.

“Trust me, your name is tattooed to that… soldier’s butt for a very long time,” said Cauffman, who enjoys watching his enlistees move up through the ranks.

Wearing his mint green uniform, Cauffman stepped into the stifling heat outside, climbed into his car and drove to Sprayberry High School. He parked near a touching memorial for Wells, complete with his smiling photo, flowers and dozens of U.S. flags. Cauffman and his fellow recruiters helped the school design it. Staff Sgt. William Asencio was waiting for Cauffman inside. Together, the two led a small group of students through a presentation about the benefits of serving in the Guard, highlighting the college tuition assistance they could receive and the opportunities to network with professionals.

“The abbreviation of GA for Georgia and NG for National Guard — I put them together,” Cauffman told the students. “We are the largest ‘gang’ in the state of Georgia. We are 12,000 strong. Ain’t nobody going to touch us… And we stand by and take care of one another.”

Emotions were still raw at the school. A box of leftover white candles from last month’s vigil for Wells sat opened at the front of the classroom. Among those who showed up for the presentation was Chazz Dudley, a recent Sprayberry graduate Cauffman proudly recruited to serve in the Guard. Dudley said Wells was a positive influence for him, pushing him to improve his physical fitness and do volunteer work. Wells’ death, Dudley said, “hurt me really deep.” Dudley pledged to come out of basic training as a top performer, as he said Wells would have wanted.

“I’m going to do everything I can for Skip Wells,” Dudley said.

Earlier that day, Cauffman reflected on the shootings in Chattanooga. He declared he and his fellow recruiters would remain vigilant while carrying on with their important work.

“It is not going to make us turn tail and run,” he said. “We will continue to stand and defend. And we will continue to do our jobs and our mission on a daily basis. That is what soldiers do.”